To date VAG have invested somewhere between $20-30Bn in electric cars.
While fiat previewed a concept car, there was nothing to suggest it actually worked as a car given it was a static display at a motor show.
The idea was good and would make a adequat replacement to the panda in the future, but fiat really don’t have the technology to make it work, or at least they didn’t. With Peugeot they have access to technology they did not have before. However even then they are hugely behind the likes of tesla in terms of technology, and with the massive investments VAG have made they are likely to be hugely behind them as well. With Peugeot only recently acquiring Vaxhaull and fiat investing heavily in alfa and maseriti, there may not be much money left in the pot of either company to launch a Long term plan to electrify the range.
Fiat have a long history of concept cars never making it to marking, in this instance I think the Centoventi is likely to join those ranks. That is to say I’d wager the Centoventi never sees production.
The best move forward at the moment would be a new Punto based on the same platform as the new corsa/208 but bear in mind that the new e-corsa is still over £21,000 in basic spec.
This price is getting on for what the top spec 500x cost so the profit margins on small electric cars is going to be very tight and may mean they are not worth while. It could effectively kill super minis for the time being.
If we really get lower cost electric cars with good range and longevity, will there really be a need for city cars?
My understanding was they were so popular here in Europe for two reasons: high priced fuel, and some places such as Italy having really small streets / passages making bigger cars more hassle.
And as someone who knows a lot about it, do you see the government finding a way to tax electric cars / charging to the extent they’ve always been able to with fossil fuels for motorists? Genuinely interested in these questions!